سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 249
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِٱلْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُم بِنَهَرٍ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّى وَمَن لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّىٓ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةًۢ بِيَدِهِۦ ۚ فَشَرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُۥ هُوَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ قَالُوا۟ لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا ٱلْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ ٱللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةًۢ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿249﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then when Tâlût (Saul) set out with the army, he said: "Verily! Allâh will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power this day against Jâlût (Goliath) and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were going to meet Allâh, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allâh’s Leave?" And Allâh is with As-Sâbirûn (the patient).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
فَصَلَ
faṣala
set out
طَالُوتُ
ṭālūtu
Talut
بِٱلْجُنُودِ
bil-junūdi
with the forces
قَالَ
qāla
he said
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
مُبْتَلِيكُم
mub'talīkum
will test you
بِنَهَرٍۢ
binaharin
with a river
فَمَن
faman
So whoever
شَرِبَ
shariba
drinks
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
فَلَيْسَ
falaysa
then he is not
مِنِّى
minnī
from me
وَمَن
waman
and whoever
لَّمْ
lam
(does) not
يَطْعَمْهُ
yaṭʿamhu
taste it
فَإِنَّهُۥ
fa-innahu
then indeed, he
مِنِّىٓ
minnī
(is) from me
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَنِ
mani
whoever
ٱغْتَرَفَ
igh'tarafa
takes
غُرْفَةًۢ
ghur'fatan
(in the) hollow
بِيَدِهِۦ ۚ
biyadihi
(of) his hand
فَشَرِبُوا۟
fasharibū
Then they drank
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a few
مِّنْهُمْ ۚ
min'hum
of them
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
جَاوَزَهُۥ
jāwazahu
he crossed it
هُوَ
huwa
he
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believed
مَعَهُۥ
maʿahu
with him
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
لَا
lā
No
طَاقَةَ
ṭāqata
strength
لَنَا
lanā
for us
ٱلْيَوْمَ
l-yawma
today
بِجَالُوتَ
bijālūta
against Jalut
وَجُنُودِهِۦ ۚ
wajunūdihi
and his troops
قَالَ
qāla
Said
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يَظُنُّونَ
yaẓunnūna
were certain
أَنَّهُم
annahum
that they
مُّلَـٰقُوا۟
mulāqū
(would) meet
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
كَم
kam
How many
مِّن
min
of
فِئَةٍۢ
fi-atin
a company
قَلِيلَةٍ
qalīlatin
small
غَلَبَتْ
ghalabat
overcame
فِئَةًۭ
fi-atan
a company
كَثِيرَةًۢ
kathīratan
large
بِإِذْنِ
bi-idh'ni
by (the) permission
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
مَعَ
maʿa
(is) with
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
l-ṣābirīna
the patient ones
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 249) ➊ {فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوْتُ بِالْجُنُوْدِ: } {”بِالْجُنُوْدِ“} The word (armies) indicates that a very large number of the Children of Israel set out to fight. Talut considered it necessary to test their obedience, endurance, hunger, thirst, and patience in the battlefield, so that only those who possessed these qualities would accompany him. However, only a few people succeeded in this test; the rest failed. Those who succeeded crossed the river, but upon seeing the enemy’s numbers, some among them who were weak in faith exclaimed that they did not have the strength today to face Jalut and his armies. But those with firm faith, who were certain of meeting Allah, encouraged them, saying that in battle, numbers are not decisive—Allah’s command is decisive. Many times it has happened that when Allah wills, small groups, due to their patience and steadfastness, overcome large groups, because Allah is with those who are patient. There are countless such incidents in the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Look at Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq. In the Battle of Mu’tah, the Muslims were three thousand and the enemy was two hundred thousand. (Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, Battle of Mu’tah)
➋ Al-Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: The companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who participated in Badr told me that their number was equal to the companions of Talut who crossed the river—slightly more than three hundred and ten. Al-Bara’ says: By Allah! No one crossed with him except a believer. [ بخاری، المغازی، باب عدۃ أصحاب بدر: ۳۹۵۷ ]
➋ Al-Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: The companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who participated in Badr told me that their number was equal to the companions of Talut who crossed the river—slightly more than three hundred and ten. Al-Bara’ says: By Allah! No one crossed with him except a believer. [ بخاری، المغازی، باب عدۃ أصحاب بدر: ۳۹۵۷ ]
